Container filling apparatus



NW. e, 1955 H. F. cox, JR 2,769,464

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Shet l [NI/ENTER HERBERT E Cox, JR.

EYZf QW ATT URNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. COX, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS l6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 195].

[NI/EN TUE HERBERT F EUXJ ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F; cox, JR 2,759,454

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 l6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 INVENTUR me" 202 200 HERBERT F EEDLJE. laa I 60 -EY m A T TDHNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. COX, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS l6 SheetS Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 10, 1951 [NYENTUH HERBERT E EuxJR.

ATTUR'NEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. COX, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1O, 1951 l6 Sheets-Sheet 6 HERBERT E Bax, JR.

INVEN TDH ATTURNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR 2,759,464

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 [NYENTUH HERBERT 1-." Box, JR.

fl T7271? NE Y Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS l6 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 10, 1951 IN VEN TUR' HERBERT E Eux, J11

z r z z l1 IIIIIIiI-lllllnlllilllnlI ATTURNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 10; 1951 [NVENTUE' HERBERT F Eux, JR. BY 1 9. w

ATf URNEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 10, 1953.

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INVENTUR HERBERT F [111); JR. BY w mm ATTDR N'EY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR 2,769,464

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTDE HERBERT 1? Box, JR.

BY QEQQW ATT'U R'NEY Nov. 6, 1956 H. F cox, JR 2,769,464

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 I 742 40 Williill"? Q VII/746 174-8 .92 [N YEN TUE ATTURNEY HERBERT F [211x 1];

Nov. 6, 1956 H. F. cox, JR 2,769,464

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Sheet l3 4 [gvVENTuE HERBERT E Cox, J12.

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A T TDRNEY H. F. COX, JR

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Nov. 6, 1956 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Dec. 10, Y 1951 & A

nuuziu [NVENTUR HERBERT E Cox, JR.

ATTURN Y NOV. 6, H. F, COX, JR CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1951 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 ,6 56 520 524- lea JNYENTDE HERBERT 1? Box. JR.

.4 TT'DHZ? NBY United States Patent Gifice 2,769,454 Patented Nov. 5, 1955 The present invention relates to apparatus for filling measured charges of liquid into containers and ancillary operations relating thereto, including the preparation of containers for filling and subsequent sealing, and more particularly to a compact automatic filling machine readily adaptable to containers of different capacities.

In apparatus of the type referred to, particularly in the milk industry where square fiber or other shaped containers having restricted openings are employed, the filling time for each container has been relatively long in order to permit filling at a rate not likely to cause excessive foaming or turbulence and consequent foam overflow. In automatic conveyor machines, filling has been effected at a slow rate while the container is in motion through the machine, a number of duplicate filling operations being effected simultaneously upon a sequence of containers passing through the machine. The filling of such containers has frequently been by slow gravity flow from a measuring device, due to the fact that the containers themselves, due to their non-rigid construction, are precluded from acting as a sufliciently accurate measure. Where numerous filling stations are in operation simultaneously, change-over from one size container to another involves laborious adjustments of each of such filling stations to accommodate a change to a different size container as well as substitution of parts. The filling operation in such apparatus occupies a lengthy portion of the conveyor travel path requiring conveyor extensions for performing ancillary and necessary operations prior to filling and subsequent to filling.

It is an object of the present invention to provide container filling apparatus adapted to fill each container by positive power displacement at a uniform fast rate with a minimum of foaming and turbulence.

It is also an object of the present invention to pro- I vide a filling nozzle fed by uniform rate of displacement means and adapted to direct a horizontal fan-like stream immediately below the top of the container, the stream being adapted to be deflected downward by the inside container side wall surfaces in such a way that the fanlike stream does not impinge upon the rising liquid surface within the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact filling apparatus having a circular conveyor, and in which all ancillary operations to filling, such as cap opening, and cap closing are performed during passage of a container once around the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide ancillary 'devices such as cap opening and closing devices adapted to positively perform their respective functions, together with centralized power means for actuating said devices.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a frame structure for supporting various operative devices at stations angularly disposed in relation to one another, in which a conveyor ring moves containers periodically from station to station, and in which a dwell period for the stationary performance of the various operations is provided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus which may be quickly adjusted to accommodate containers of different volumetric size, and in which accurate control of any desired measured charge can be quickly effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of low cost, capable of handling quantity production in a cleanly manner, and capable of being changed from one production size to another without substantial delay or complicated adjustments or changing of parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for protecting against a false filling operation upon defective or improperly selected or loaded containers, such mechanism operating through a time delay mechanism.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described having features promoting cleanliness, and in which the casing structure has a minimum of operative openings, well protected,

and having adequate wash water shedding characteristics.

A further object of the invention is directed to providing a filling apparatus of simple, effective design, adapted for ready disassembly for inspection and cleaning, and in which replacement of various units may be quickly made.

The invention further has to do with the design of a filling apparatus, in which the various devices are disposed in an accessible manner, independent of one another, and in which modified devices for acting on containers of various shapes may be easily substituted, without substantial variation in the sequence or principle of over-all operation.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the apparatus, taken from the loading side;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, just above the conveyor ring;

Figure 3 is a broken sectional view through the base, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing the setting key for the ring conveyor;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, showing the Geneva drive for the conveyor ring;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 3, showing the central operating bar cam follower and guide;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken sub stantially on the line 77 of Figure 3, of the container lifting cam;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 3, showing the main drive shaft;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 8, showing the conveyor ring drive;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken sub- 35 35 of Figure 1 r E stanti-ally on the line 10-10 of Figure 1, showing the operating stations; I

Figure 11 is a fragm'entai y sectional view taken substantially on the line 1 '111 of Figure 10, of the carton filler plug opening station;

'Figure 12 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 12I2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged firagmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 1313 of Figure 11;

"Figure 14 is a fragmentary elevated view, partly in 7 section, and enlarged'to approximately full size, of 'the opening dog of Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a frag mentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Figure 10, through the d'et'ector'station;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 16-16 of Figure 15; t

Figure 17 is an electrical circuit diagram for the apparatus;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken substantially on the line 1818 of Figure 1 0, through the filling tation;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 19''19 o f Figure 18, showing the V filling stroke adjuster;

Figure 2 0 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken'substantially. on the lin e 20 -20'of Figure 18,

V of the filler'piston drivingcollarand yoke;

Figure 21' is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially "on the line 21 21,-of Figure 18, V

of the central operating 'bar and lever driven collar and I yoke;

Figure 22 is an enlarged sectional view throughthe liquid pump shown in Figure 18, and taken substantially on the line 1818 of'Figure 10; i V 7 Figure 23 is a transverse Seaman view taken immediately above the pump cylinder on the line 2323 of V Figure 22; a a

. igure 24 is a transverse sectional view'takenfon the line 2424 of Figure 22,, andsho'wingthe inlet valve; Figure 25 is a substantially full 'size' fragmentary axial sectional view through the pump outlet'valve and filler nozzle; 7 1 V Figure 26 is a transverse 'se'ctionalview'taken substantially on th'e broken line 2626 of Figure 25;

Figure-27 is a fragmentary side elevationalview thefiller nozzle extended to filling'positio'n; t

Figure 28 isa fragmentary enlarged sectional view :through the drip fla'nge taken at'thefspillway, out line 7 V za-zs of Figure 26; r

Figure 42 'is'a diagrammatic showing of 'the-guideways adapted to act upon the container cap and progressing from the opening station to the closingstation; t

Figure 43 is an elevational view, partly-in section 7 taken from the line 43 43 of Figure 42; I

Figure .44 is a broken side elevational view; partly in section, taken from'the line 44-44 of Figure 42 Figure 45 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken from the line 4545 of Figure 42;

Figure 46 is a fragmentary sectional view 0f the ,timi'n'g mechanism operating in conjunction with the de: tect'or taken substantially on the line 46- -46. of- Fig ure 8; 7

Figure 47 is a View of the timing mechanism with parts shown in section -and the cover-removed, andas viewed from the line 4747 of Figure 8;

Figure 48' is an enlarged sectional View taken sub;

stant'ially onthe line 481'48 of Figure 47;

Figure 49 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line -4949 of Figure 47; V

Figure 5'0is a: detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 504-50 of Figure 48; a

Figure 51' is a fragmentary sectional View taken sub} 7 stanti'ally on the line 51 51 er Figure 49, withthe in resetposition;

Figure 52 is a fragmentary sectional view of vthe hy; draulic fmaster cylinder and driving cam taken sub'stan tially on the. line 52i-52-0f Figure 8; 7 7 t Figure 53 is a fragmentary sectional view'through the cam and'follower taken on: the,line.53i.53 of Figure 52;

.Figure 54'i's a itimin g diagram illust-rating the'r'elative cyclic operation of the various parts;

Figure 55'is 'ajfragmentary part-:elevational and. part', V V sectional view of'th'e containerlifting mechanismtaken. 1 V substantially on' the line 155%55 ofFigureS;

Figure 56 's a fragmentary sectional View stantially onfthe line 56- 56 of Figure 55; and

Figure '57 is a-p'erspective' view of 'the top construction 7 .ofjacontainer adapted for use-in the apparatus. 7

Referring to the drawingsiaridparticularly to Figure 1,

7 there is shown apparatus from the loading side'lforhold Figure29'is a sectional view taken through thefiller V 7 cap closing and expanding station," substantially on the line 2929 of Figure 10; a

Figure30 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken en the line se se ofFig ure 29, and showing the spiral ways and followers; 7 I v t F igure'31 is an enlargedjsectional view of the cap :ex-

panding toggle taken substantially on the line 3131 of Figure 29;

V Figure 32 is a seetion'al vievvtaken substantially o n W the line 32 -32 of Figure 31; V 1 "Figure 33 is'a diagrammatic 'view showing the path of 7 the expander toggle membersftaken substantially on the line 3333 of Figure 32; t

Figure 34 is a fragmentary elevational view of theexpander members in operative position; 7

ing fiber gniilkkontaineis; the machine having aging. conveyor for moving the? containers around the machine l as various operations are'pe'rformed atrv'ar'ious stations in the process'of filling sueh'c'ontainers. The apparatus as illustrated is particularly adapted for filling containers of the type shown inFigure 57, "having a' substantially squarecross-section,;a flat top 59, and a filling-opening 7 7 closed by a hinged member having 'forxned therein a -Figure 35 is a sectional view taken through the'filler' f I cap sea-ling and'clinching stationslibstantially'jon the line Figure 36 is 'an enlarged sectional view taken substanti'ally on the line 3 6536 of Figure 35 Figure'37 is a sectional view'taken*substan-tially'on the line 37937 of Figure 35; I a Figure 38 is :a sectional view taken substantially-on fibrous cap 61' in the form of a shallow cup-like'plug',

such hinged member being secured to the'cover-and suft ficiently flexible to hinge to an open positionsubstantially along the diagonal line-acrossjthe top. Such con 7 tainers are'of'a well-known typeand are essentia'ily like r the 'disclos uregi nHothersall Fatent '2,")8{5;979, except that V the hinged member. is alsoprovidedwith-ailip adapted r V 'to be formed farounrl the 'top corneredge beadc'fi thc container. I V The apparatus comprises' a circular base 6 -having a :iplura'lity of 'feet;62', and-a central circu-l 'housing fi" about'whi'chisfrotatably nountedfa circular s fwhich is mounted a conveyor ring 63 and con port brackets 70. -"Projectir1g upwardly above. no it and on the center argis of the apparatus is a stationary column 72irorn Whichishung anannularsplaslrguard 74fwhieh overhangs-the conveyor ring -ca rried by'tlie rotating-circular Skirt- 66, A'ring 75 l1aVl-llga Cdlllnlfl elfb F fragmentary elevation taken from the 7' 7 taken subgaging set screw is secured to the guard and holds such guard in position, as shown, or in elevated position during inspection.

The base 69 has upwardly projecting from adjacent the edge thereof a plurality of support posts such as 76, 78, 80, and 82, adapted to carry various unitary devices angularly disposed around the apparatus. Such devices include a cap opening mechanism generally indicated as at 84, a detecting apparatus indicated at 86 to determine whether the cap of the container has been properly opened and is in readiness for filling, a filling apparatus 88, a cap closing and clinching apparatus, the clinching portion of which is generally indicated at 90, and a marking apparatus 92 for marking the container, it being understood that where the apparatus is applied to milk containers or other perishable liquids, it is desirable to indicate the date of filling. The opening apparatus 34, the detecting apparatus 86, the filling apparatus 88, the closing and clinching apparatus, the latter shown at 90, and the marking apparatus 92 are disposed around the conveyor ring at angular intervals, for example, as illustrated by Figure 10, such that containers carried by the conveyor ring are moved to proper operative positions with respect to all of such apparatus at any time that the conveyor ring is brought to rest in proper angular relation to any station at which such apparatus is located.

The filling apparatus comprises a reservoir 94 which is adapted to hold a substantial quantity of milk or other liquid. Such reservoir may be continuously filled by float feed apparatus (not shown) or filled from time to time from any available supply. The reservoir 94 is supported from the center column 72 upon a bracket 96 securely clamped thereto as at 97. Power for actuating the filling mechanism is obtained from a reciprocating bar 98 actuated by means within the housing, such bar extending up through the column 72 and acting through lever mechanism generally indicated at 109 above the reservoir 94.

The containers of the type shown in Figure 57 may be of varying capacity, such containers being in half pint, one-third quart, one pint, and one quart sizes. The three smaller sizes of such containers, as commercially produced, are of the same square cross-sectional dimension, but vary in height. The largest size, that is the quart size, is of larger square cross-section, and also of a different height from any of the other three smaller sizes. The present apparatus is adapted to quickly change over from containers of one capacity to containers of a diiferent capacity, so that the apparatus can be run on one size for a period of time until a sufllcient production of filled containers of that size is had, and then quickly changed to such other size as there may be a demand for.

Referring to Figure 2, the conveyor ring comprises a plurality of pairs of open pockets, twenty in number, ten of which are adapted to receive the smaller sizes, and ten of which are adapted to receive the largest size. Each of the larger pockets comprises flanks 102 and 104 at right angles to one another and terminating in short broad finger grips 1G6 and 108. The contour of the flanks 104 and the grips 106 and 108 is such as to closely embrace the large size square container referred to. Such containers are loaded into the pockets by sliding downwardly from above, and then when filled, are lifted out of the pockets. As will be seen from Figure 10, at any one time three adjacent pockets are free from operative devices, aflording an unloading station and two loading stations. The large size pockets for receiving the containers are angularly spaced around the ring 36 and between each pair of large size pockets are smaller size pockets for receiving the smaller size containers, such smaller size pockets having flanks 110 and 112 bounded by grips 114 and 116, proportionately similar to the grips 106 and 108 for the large size containers. During operation, the conveyor ring is adapted to be moved 36 at a time, and then remain stationary for a period during wh ch various operations at various stages are performed substantially simultaneously, whereupon the ring is advanced 36 and the operations repeated upon the subsequent containers. The large and small pockets are each adapted to hold containers of the type described, with their off-center filler holes inwardly disposed, with the hole centers lying on a common circle.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the base 60 and upstanding circular housing 64 are provided with an annular bearing member having an annular upwardly facing bearing groove or race 12!) and central spider member 118, the spider portion having a hub 119 acting as a supporting member for the center column 72 previously referred to. The column 72 is threaded in the hub, and locked by a nut 121. The race 120 is provided with a plurality of hardened balls 122, upon which is supported an annular member 124 having an inwardly extending circular flange 128 riding on such balls 122. The annular member 124 has secured thereto the circular skirt 66, the lower portion of which overhangs to a considerable extent the housing 64 and the upper end of which forms a support for the conveyor ring 68. The conveyor ring has an internal annular shoulder 130 adapted to seat upon the circular upper edge of the skirt 66, the lower portion 132 of the ring overhanging the skirt 66 a slight distance and telescopically arranged with respect to the skirt so as to accurately center the conveyor ring upon the skirt 66. The conveyor ring has an inwardly offset upstanding flange 134 extending upwardly into the splash guard or cover 74, such cover having a depending narrow skirt 136 overhanging the flange 134.

It will be seen that the pockets previously described which are integrally formed on the ring 68, have considerable depth whereby containers placed in position will be held in accurate vertical alignment. As previously indicated, the conveyor ring is provided with ten large pockets angularly spaced 36 and intermediate smaller pockets located midway between each pair of large pockets. The conveyor ring is so mounted upon the skirt 66 as to be shiftable angularly 18, so as to move the small pockets to an operative position'and move the large pockets to an inoperative position, or vice versa. For this purpose, the skirt 66 (see Figure 4) is provided with radial pins 133 adapted to coact with either one of two keyways 140 or 142 in the conveyor ring 68, so that upon manually lifting the conveyor ring slightly with respect to the supporting skirt 66 and moving the same angularly 18, the conveyor ring may be readily keyed to the supporting skirt so as to bring either the large size pockets into operative position or the small size pockets into operative position.

Carried by the skirt 66 are ten supporting brackets 144 adapted to act as bottom rests for containers held by the pockets. Such brackets are angularly uniformly spaced 36 around the skirt 66. Each bracket comprises a ver-' tical sleeve 146 in which is adjustably positioned a container support bar 148, such sleeve having an offset supporting arm 150 extending downwardly parallel to the axis of the sleeve, which arm may be square in crosssection and project through square apertures 152 and 154 in the annular flanges 156 and 158 integrally secured to the skirt 66. The support arms 159 are vertically slidable in the apertures 152 and 154 in order to perform certain operations at certain stages which will be hereinafter referred to.

Since the height of the different container sizes varies, it is desirable to vary the height of the supporting surface 166 of the supporting bars 148, so that whatever size container is being operated upon, the top surface of the container will normally always lie in a common horizontal plane. In order to set the height of the supporting surfaces 160, the sleeves 146 are provided with four downwardly longitudinally extending slots of varying length,

such as 162, 164, 166, and 168, and the bar 148 is pro- I vided with a radial pin 174) adapted to seat in the lower j end of any one of such slots The .5191 1672., i9; example,

sweats;

when engaged by the pin170, holds the supporting sur-' face 160 of the bar 148 at an elevated height such that the half pint size container would have its top surface lying in the operating plane referred to. When the pin 170 rests in the base of the slot 164, the height is such as to accommodate a onethird quart container with its" top in the same operating plane. 'As shown in Figure 3, the pin is seated in the base of theslo't 168 which is the lowermost position, and that which would support a container of the quart size with its top lying in the operating plane. It will thus be seen that by seating all of the pins 148 in the base of slots corresponding to'a given size, a particular container size will be accommodated, and that 'by shifting the conveyor ring 18 by moving the key 138 from one to the other of slots 149 and 142 the proper size pockets will be positioned in alignment with the supporting bars 148 for therparticular size container.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown within the base, a motor 172,'which may be of variable speed type, operating through a reduction gear 17 tand driving by means rounded .by a battle 183, so that a quantity of oil may be retained in the housing to lubricate the main shaft bearings and mechanism operated'thereby. Such drive shaft has keyed thereto a cam wheel 19% and a crank arm 192 of a-Geneva movement shown more in detail in Figures 2, 5, 8, and 9,. The crank arm 192-operates a star'wheel 194 of such Geneva movement, the star wheel being mounted upon a shaft 196 journaledjin bearing brackets 193 and 2%. The shaft 196 has keyed thereto a bevel gear 202 meshing witha mating gear'2t14 keyed to a vertical shaft 206 journaled in a bearing bracket and' sleeve 203 extending inwardlyfrom the wall of the 'housing64. The shaftiZti on its upper end has keyed thereto a driving pinion 210 meshing with internal ring gear teeth 212'which may be formedintegrally upon an inwardly extending annular shouider 214 of the support ring 124 previously referred to, such support ring carrying Geneva arrn'192 moves the conveyor ring 36, The Geneva arm and star wheel 1% are so designed that movement of the ring is effected during approximately 120? of the rotation of-the Geneva arm 192 and drive shaft 182, the ring remaining stationary during the remaining 240 of rotation of the Geneva arm 192.

a the skirt 66 and the conveyor ring 63.. 'By means of the. L Geneva movement and the selection of bevel gears, pinion 'and ring gear of correct ratios, eachrotation of the a surface 262 formed upon a bracket member-p264 secured to the bearing support 186; The guideblock 252 also has a face 266 parallel with, the face are adapted to The cam wheel 199 mounted on the main shaft 182 I and shown in'Figures 2, 3, 6, 8, and 52, is provided with cam grooves 216 and 218 on its opposite faces. The

groove 216 is adapted through a roller follower 220 to recpirocate the operating bar '98 extending'axially through the center column 72 of the apparatus. The bar'98 at its lower end is providedfwit'n. a threaded shank'222 I received in a cam follower supporting member 224,,such member having an upwardly extending threaded sleeve 226 a downwardly extending fork 228, and a laterally The shank-222 is'adjustable axially within the threaded 7 sleeve 226 to vary the relative position between tiie bar 98and the cam follower 221),. there beingprovided a locking nut 233 to secure the. selected adjustment. The

bar-98 'is'slidably mounted in sleeve guides 2% and 242 (see Figure 18 within the tubular column '72. As will 7 be referredtohereinafter more in'detail, the cam groove 216 is provided with a section adapted tomove the central V bar 93 downwardly during approximately a rthir dloflthe rotation of the mm wheel and tomove the bar upwardly during the remainder, and the rise of the portion of the cam effecting upward movement of the bar 58 is substantially uniform so that the velocity of the bar in its upward movement is uniform. The cam is also disposed upon the shaft 182 in such angular relation to the Geneva arm 192' as to efiect upward movement of the bar'98 at such time as the Geneva arm is free from the mating star Wheel and the conveyor ring stationary.

As previously set forth, the 'appartaus 'is provided with .mechanism for performing the operation of opening the filler cap of an empty fiber container, subsequently deter I mining that the filter cap has been properly opened, and a that a container of proper size h'a's'been placed upon the ring conveyor, andthereafter filling such container with a measured quantity of fluid, after which the filler cap 61 isclosed, followingwhich'the lip 294 of the cap is clinched in position,"after'which the container is suitably marked. In Figure 10, the various positions at which such operations are performed around the machine 'are indicated in. their angular relation. The opening mechanism 34 is followed'by the detecting mechanism 86, which'is dis-' posed '36 beyond the opening mechanism. Thereafter, the closing mechanism 89 acts upon the cap'to seat the cap in the filler opening, such mechanism being located 72 beyond th e filler mechanism. The clinching mechanism 99 for the lip of the cam is located36 beyond the,

closing mechanism, and the marking apparatus 92 is angularly disposed 36 from the clinching apparatus 90. The filling mechanism is operated from the reciprocating, bar 98 driven by the cam wheel 1%. The other operating mechanisms, with the exception of the detector, are

actuated by a hydraulic system deriving power from. a master cylinder, the piston'of which is driven by the cam groove 218 in the cam wheel 190.; A V

In Figures 52 and 5.3, there is shown the master cylin der 244 mounted upon an inclined portion 246: of the housing bottom 188. Thefcyl'inder .is disposed at an angle of approximately 45, and its piston and .pistonrod areradia'lly' disposed with respec't to the main shaft 182, The piston 248 in the cylinder 244 is actuated by a piston rod 259 having a guide block'2'52, such guide block having a stub shaft 254.0n which 'is rotatably mounted a cam follower roller 256' riding in the cam groove 21 8 of the cam wheel 190. The pistonrod has athreaded shank 258 which may be adjustably positioned in the block 252 ,7 r

and the flat face 2500f the block ZSZirides upon a guide engage the plane surface268 of the cam wheel, such surface being located radially'outwardly withi'respect to the cam groove 218. The cam groove 218 is disposed angularly with respect to the cam groove actuating thebar $3,

and the Geneva movement so as to move the piston-'with l' in the master cylinder 244 through a complete stroke in 7 Referring to Figures '11]4,-wherein the cap opening 1 station is shown in detail, there will be seen a'power cylinder 270 mounted upon a'bracket 272, the iatte'r 'sup- '7 ported upon the post'76 extending from the'annular' step Q of the base 60.. The bracket is provided with alaterally extending guide ring 274 through which reciprocates a:

sleeve 276, the upper endof'which is connected to the piston rod 278' of the cylinder 279- through a tie bar 230 p adjustably positioned on therod 282 having an integral collar 28 4, the latter'havingthreaded engagemen't'with ,one end of the sleeve 27 6. The'sleeve at its lower ,end

below the supporting ring 274 is providedlwith' a 'radially V n f 

